Method and means for assembling the parts of artificial eyes



June 23, 1931. GRUBMAN Q 1,810,896

METHOD AND MEANS FOR ASSEMBLING THE PARTS ARTIFICIAL EYES Original FiledFeb. 12, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR Z60] 62225222 an M ATTORNEY June23, 1931. L. J. GRUBMAN Q METHOD AND MEANS FOR ASSEMBLING THE PARTS OFARTIFICIAL EYES 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed Feb.

/g: INVENTOR Zt'af'rzzfmaia Y /%%e( /5u14 ATTO EY Patented June 23, 1931UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE a I LEO J. GRUBMAN, OF BELLE HARBOR, LONGISLAND, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO MABGON CORPORATION, OF NEW YORK,'N. Y., ACORPORATION OF NEW YORK METHOD AND MEANS FOR ASSEMBLING THE PARTS OFARTIFICIAL EYES Application filed February 12, 1927, Serial No. 167,634.Renewed February 12, 1930. I

This invention relates to an improved method and means for assemblingthe parts of artificial eyes, and has for its general object and purposeto expedite the quantity pro- "s duction and reduce the manufacturingcost of such artificial eyes as are generally used in connection withdolls, manikins and similar figures.

It is one of the important objects of the present disclosure to providea novel'method characterized by the fact that inner and outer shellsconstituting the eye structure are assembled in nestedrelation to eachother and parts of the walls of said shells simultaneously interlockedto fixedly secure the shells against relative movement. It is alsoanother novel feature of the new method to permanently secure eyelashmembers in the operation of assembling the eye shellswhereby the lashmembers will projectoutwardly from the outer surface of the eye at adefinite angle with respect thereto and in relation to the eye pupil.

t is also a further object of the invention to provide novel means forquickly assembling an outer metallic eye shell having an eyeshapedopening in its wall and an inner shell of thermo-plastic material whichincludes means for moving said shells under pres-' sure into nestedrelation and heating said inner shell whereby a part of its wall isangularly offset outwardly through said opening and the outer surface ofsaid part positioned in the same circumferential plane as the outersurface of the outer shell.

It is also a further object of the invention to provide means forfeeding eyelash strands into position between said inner and outershells at one edge of the opening in the latter and adhesivelyincorporating the same in the structure of the inner shell as saidshells are assembled and simultaneously cutting off said eyelashstrands.

It is also an additional object of the inveni' tion to provide meansautomatically operating in the assemblage of the shell members to bendor turn the edge of one shell around or upon the edge of the other shellwhereby said shells are permanently fixed or secured against relative'movement.

ap propriate- With the above and other objects in view, the inventionconsists in the improved method and means for assembling the parts ofartificial eyes, and in the several novel features of the assemblingapparatus, as will be hereinafter more fully described, illustrated inthe accompanying drawings, and subsequently incorporated int-hesubjoined claims.

In the drawings, wherein I have illustrated one simple and practicalembodiment of the assembling apparatus, and in which similar referencecharacters designate corresponding parts throughout the several V ieWS,

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view showing the relative arrangementof the several parts of the eye structure with respect to thecooperating parts of the apparatus prior to the operation of the latter;

Fig. 2 isa fragmentary vertical section on an enlarged scale after theapparatus has been operated and showing. the several parts of the eyestructure as finally assembled;

' Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the completed eye structure; 7

Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the male assembling die; and v Fig. 5 is adetail vertical sectional view showing a modified form of one part ofthe apparatus. 1 In the accompanying drawings, for purposes ofillustration, I have shown the several essential parts of the apparatusmounted and arranged upon ,a suitable framestructure 5, said structureincluding the base 6 upon which an upstanding hollow boss 7 is formed.Positioned concentrically with respect'to this boss a vertical post 8 isrigidly fixed at its lower end in any suitable manner in the base 6.This post extends above the boss 7 and is provided upon its upper endwith a semi spherical head 9 constitutinga male die. This head, at theappropriate. location on its surface is formed with a relief or raisedportion 10 of substantially elliptical or eyeshaped form. The post 8 isprovided with a longitudinal centralbore 11 extending into the head 9which is adapted to receive a suit able electrical resistance unitindicated at 12 whereby the die head 9may be heated.

Above the boss 7 and below the head 9, a

collar 13 is loosely engaged upon the post 8 and is urged upwardly andyieldingly supported in a normal position against the head 9 by means ofa coiled spring 14 arranged in the hollow boss 7 and surrounding saidpost. The upper surface of the collar 13 is provided with an annulargroove 15 in spaced concentric relation to its inner edge. The purposeof this construction will be hereinafter explained in detail, r

A female die member 21is suitably inount ed in the frame 5 for verticalmovement and is urged upwardly to its normal position by a spring 22.This die member has ahorizon tally extending part 23 provided with asemispherical cavity 24 therein opening upon the lower. side of saidpart 23, an opening 25 formed through said part communicating with-thetop of said cavity. The part 23 is provided with an upwardly extendingtubular portion 26 constituting. a guide. for the vertically'movablemember 27. This member at its lowerend and at oneside of itscenter has adownwardly extending part28 provided with; an obliquely inclined lowerend face 29. To the inner'side of this part 28 the knife blade 30isrsuitablyfixed, the cutting edge' of said bladebeing locatedbelowandin spaced relation to the inclined face 29.1 Anysuitable meansmay be employed for imparting relative vertical movements to the femaledie 21 and the knife carrying member 27 inproperly timed relation toeach other.

The upper end of the member 21 is'provided with a laterally extendingpart having an upper obliquely inclined surface 31 over which eyelashstrands indicated at S. are adapted to be fed from suitable spools (notshown) by means of the friction feed roller 32 rotatably supported uponthe member 21.

The lower end of this inclinedsurface 31 communicateswith one side ofthe opening 25 and, throughv said opening the ends of the eyelashstrands are projected to position the same for attachment to the eyestructure as the parts thereof are assembled in the manner which I shallnow explain in detail.

' The member 21'is normally urged upwardly by the spring 22 to aposition wherein the arm 23 of'said memberisdisposed above and in spacedrelation .tothe head 9 of the post 8. In this, normal position of saiddie meme ber, the inner shell 33 of the eye structure which. is formed.from celluloid or other thermo-plastic material is arranged upon thehead 9 of the post. This shell is of semi, spherical form and the edgethereof at the open side. of the shell is engaged upon the base wall; ofthe groove 15 and the collar 13. Anouter shell..34 is then arrangedover. the shell 33,. said outer shell preferably being formed from a.thin metal sheet and being of;

somewhatgreater depth than the inner shell 33. Therefore, when the outershell is arranged positionwith its edge also in contation of the'humaneye pupil is painted or otherwise delineated. At the correspondinglocation, the wall of the outer metal shell 34 is provided withan eyeshaped opening 35 therethrough. The eyelash strands S are now feddownwardly through the opening 25 of the female diemember so thattheirends are projected beyond one side of said opening into tangentialcontacting engagement with the surface of the inner shell 33. It will ofcours e, be understood that this feeding of the eyelashes to position isdone either by hand or automatically after the members 21 and 27havebeen moved downwardly from their uppermost positions toapproximately the position shown in Fig. "1 of the drawings where theouter surface of the outershell 34 is substantially in contactingengagement with the-wall ofthe cavity 24 in the arm 23of member 2 21.the parts 26 and 27v then continues so. that While the inner shell 33 isretained in a sta-..

tionary position upon the head 9 of the post 8, the outer shell 34 isforced downwardly under pressure. Initially, in this independentdownward movement of the outer shell,

The downward movement of til;

the collar 13 is forced downwardly for a short'dis'tance against theaction of spring l4unt1l it strikes upon the upper end of the boss7,.whereupon, the edge portion of the a shell 34- yielding to thepressuneofthe female die member thereon is turned inwardly. around theedge ofthe inner shell. and upwardly upon the inner surface thereof substantially inthe manner shown at 36in Fig. 2 of the drawings, thusinterlocking the edges of the inner and outer shells with each'other.Simultaneously with this interlocking; en-: gagement of the shell edges,the curved section of the outer shell 34 is-broughtinto concentriccontacting engagement upon the outer surface of the inner'shell. Thehead 9 of the post being more or less highly heatedby the heating unit12, the wall of the inner shell 33 is softened 'orred-ucedto asemi-plastic condition so thatsin the. final downward, movement of thefemale die member, the. two shells are forced together undencompressionand a sectionof the wall of the'inner shell corresponding in shape tothe eye shaped. -protu.- berancelO on the head 9 isprojected out wardlythrough the opening 35 in the outer shell to position the outer'surfaceof'such projected section of the inner shell wall in substantially thesame circumferential, plane.

as theouter surface of the outer shell 34. At the same time, the ends ofthe eyelash strands S interposed between the wall of the outer shell '34at one edge of the opening therein and the wall of the inner shell areembedded under pressure in the softened structure of the inner shellwall so that they become adhesively united or incorporated therewith.Simultaneously with this final compressing action of the female diemember, an independent downward movement is imparted to the knife blade30 so that the eyelash strands are severed at the opposite edge of theopening 25 in said die member. In this manner, it will be seen that thetwo shells constituting the eye structure may be assembled in nestedre-- lation with each other and permanently secured against relativemovement and the eyelash strands also securely attached in appropriaterelation to the pupil bearing section of the eye structure in a singleoperation and without necessitating the employment of an adhesive orother additional mechanical fastening means for the several parts.

After the parts 26 and 27 of the apparatus are returned to theiruppermost positions, the completed eye may be removed from the upper endof the post 8. Thereafter, the opposite sides of the eye are providedwith perforations or openings of suitable size and shape therethrough asindicated at 87 for the purpose of receiving the shaft or axis of an eyemounting. Also, the outer surface of the wall of the outer shell 34above the eyelashes may be appropriately colored'to represent the uppereyelid.

In Fig. 5 of the drawings, I have illustrated'a slightly modified formof a part of the apparatus, wherein the collar 13 may be mounted infixed relation to thepost 8, and said collar provided with a number ofspaced vertically movable pins 38 the upper ends'of which intersect thegroove 15 in the upper face of said collar. These pins are yieldinglyheld in a normal position by means of suitable springs 39 with theirupper ends projecting above the upper face of the collar,said ends ofthe pins being rabbeted to provide horizontal shoulders 40 above thebase of the groove 15 upon which the edges of the inner and outer eyeshells are adapted to be initially engaged. It will be evident that suchan arrangement will operate to interlock the edges of the eye shells toeach other in substantially the manner above e."- plained. Thus, in thedownward movement of the female die, the outer shell 34 will be forceddownwardly relative to the inner shell, and the spring pressed pins 38will 7 therefore, also be forced downwardly in the collar 13 until theedge of said outer shell engages the wall" of the groove 15 wherebyunder the continuing pressure of the female die member said edge of theouter shell is turned inwardly and clinched upon theedge of the-innershell.

It will be-understood from the foregoing that I have devised a method ofassembling the elements of the eye structure together with the eyelasheswhich maybe expeditiously executed by means of apparatus ofcomparatively simple form, thus greatly increasing quantity productionand reducing the manufacturing cost of artificial eyes for use in dolls,manikins and similar figures. In the explanation of this new method, Ihave referred to certain apparatus which I have found to be quitesatisfactory in practicaluse. Necessarily, I have also referred in somedetail to the structural features of the eye itself. However, I am notherein claiming the novel features of the eye structure, as such subjectmatter is fully described and claimed in a separate application for 'illpatent filed February 24,1927, Serial No;

170,446. It is accordingly to be understood that the illustratedapparatus is to be considered primarily with a view to enabling theseveral steps as involved in my new method of assembling-the parts ofthe eye structure to be clearly understood, since it is possible thatsuch method might be carried out by means of various other structuralforms of the apparatus. However, the esr sential features of theapparatus whichare particularly identified with my new method, areherein claimed, since in so far as I am aware, there is no knownapparatus now em ployed in this art capable ofutilization for theparticular purpose in view. These characteristic features of theassembling apparatus may however, be exemplified in other 7 plane, thenmoving said members relative 7 to each other to dispose the wallsthereof in concentric contacting engagement and simultaneously turningthe edge of the outer shell member inwardly and clinchin the same uponthe edge of the inner member. I

2. In a method of assembling the parts of an artificial eye, firstarranging two semispherical shell members one withinthe other thenrelatively moving said shell members to dispose their walls inconcentric contactmg engagement and simultaneously bending the edge ofone shell member and clinching the same upon the edge of the othermember, and interlocking said shell walls with each other in spacedrelation to the edges thereof.

3. A method of assembling the parts of artificial eyes which consists inarranging two semi-spherical shell members one within the other, theouter member having an eyeshaped opening through its wall, positioningeyelash strands between the walls of the inner and outer shells at oneedge of the open ing inthe latter, and moving said shells relative toeach other to dispose their walls in concentric contacting engagementand projecting a part of the wall of the inner shell through the openingin the wall of the outer shellto thereby secure the eyelash strandsinatta-ched relation to said shell members.

4. In a method of assembling the parts of an artificial eye, the stepwhich consists in nestin inner and outer semis Jherical shell memberswith their walls in substantial contacting engagement, andsimultaneously bending the edge of one shell member around and upon theedge of the other shell member andalso interlocking a part of the lattershell member with the wall of the first named shell member to therebysecure said members against relative movement.

5. In a method of assembling the parts of an artificial eye, the stepwhich consists in her into substantially concentric nested relation, andsimultaneously projecting a part of the wall of the inner shellmember'from the plane thereof through the perforation in the wall of theouter shell member and also bending the edge of the outer shell memberaround and upon the edge of the inner shell member to interlock saidshell members with each other.

7. A method of assembling the parts of ar tificial eyes which consistsinnesting an inner shell of thermoplastic materlal within an outer metalshell havin 'an o enin throu h its wall, heating the wall of said innershell and moving said shells relative to eachother under pressure toposition their walls in substantially concentric contacting relation,and simultaneously projecting a part of the inner shell through theopening in the wall of the outer shell. i v

8. A method of assembling the parts of artificial eyeswhich consists innesting an inner shell of thermoplastic material within an outer metalshell havingan opening through itswall, heating the wall of said innershell and moving saidshellsrelative to each other under pressure toposition their wallsin sub stantially concentric contacting relation,simultaneously projecting a part of the inner shell through the openingin the wall of the outer shell, and simultaneously bending the edge ofthe wall of the outer shell inwardly around and upon the edge of thewall of the inner shell. v

9. A method of assembling the parts of artiiicial eyes which consists innesting an inner shell of thermoplastic material within an outer metalshell having an opening through its wall, heating the wall of said innershell, positioning the ends of the eyelash strands between the wallsof'the inner and outer shells at one edge of the opening in the latter,and moving said shells relative to each other under pressure to positiontheir walls in substantiallyconcentric contacting relation, andprojecting. a part of theiwall of the inner shell through the opening inthe wall of the outer shell to adhesively incorporialtp the strand endsin the wall of said inner s e l.

10. A method of assembling the parts of artificial eyes which consistsin nesting an inner shell of thermoplastic material within an outermetal shell having an opening through its wall, heating the wall of saidinner shell, positioning the ends of eyelash strands between the wallsof the inner and outer shells at one edge of the opening in the latter,moving said shells relative" to each other. under pressure to positiontheir walls in substantially:concentric contacting relation, andprojecting a part ofthe wall of the inner shell through the opening inthe'wall of the outer shell to adhesively incorporate the strand ends inthe wall of said-inner shell, and simultaneously bending the edge of theouter shell inwardly around and upon the edge of the inner shell. I

11. A method of making artificial eyes which consists inapplying arepresentation of an eyepupil on the outersurface of a semi-sphericaleye shell of thermo-plastic material, then assembling said shell withinan outer metallic shell having an eye shaped opening through its wall,heating the wall of the'inner shell to render the same semiplastic, andthen moving the inner and outer shells relative to each other underpressure to project said portion of the wall of the inner shell havingthe eye pupil thereon through the opening in the wall of the outer shelland position the outer surfaces of said projected portion of the innershell wall and of the wall of the outer shell in the samecircumferential plane.

12. A method of making artificial I eyes which consists in applying arepresentation of any eye pupil on the outer surface of a semi-sphericaleye shell of thermo-plastic material, then assemblingtsaid shell withinan outer metallic shell havinganeye shaped opening through its wall,heating the Wall of the inner shell to render the same semi-plastic,positioning the ends of the eyelash strands between the walls of theinner and outer shells at one edge of the opening in the latter, andthen moving tie inner and outer shell: relative to each other underpressure to project said portion of the wall of the inner shell havingthe eye pupil thereon through the openin in the wall of-the'outer shelland position the outer surfaces of said projected portion of the innershell wall and of the Wall of the outer shell in the samecircumferential plane, and simultaneously adan outer metallic shellhaving an eye shaped opening through its wall, heating the wall of theinner shell to render the same semi-plastic, positioning the ends of theeyelash strands between the walls of the inner and outer shells at oneedge of the opening in the latter, then moving the inner and outershells relative to each other under pressure to project said portion ofthe wall of the inner shell having the eye pupil thereon through theopening in the wall of the outer shell and position the outer surfacesof said projected portion of the inner shell wall and of the wall of theouter shell in the same circumferential plane and simultaneouslyadhesively incorporating the ends Or the eyelash strands under pressurein the wall structure of the inner shell, and during such relativemovement lOGJWEEIl the inner and outer shells bending the edge of thewall of the latter shell inwardly around and upon the edge of the innershell wall to permanently secure the shells in nested relation.

14. Apparatus of the character described including means for supportinginner and outer eye shell members in nested relation for movementrelative to each other, the outer shell member having an opening in itswall,

means for feeding eyelash strands to posi-,

tion the ends thereof between the shell members at one edge of saidopening, means for relatively moving the shells to permanentlysecure thestrand ends between the shell walls in projecting relation to the edgeof said opening and. position said walls in substantially concentriccontacting relation to each other, and additional means for interlockingparts of the shell walls with each other to secure said shells againstrelative movement.

15. Apparatus of the character described including means for supportinginner and outer eye shell members in nested relation for movementrelative to each other, the outer shell member having anopening in itswall, means for feeding eyelash strands to positionthe ends thereofbetween the shell members at one edge of said opening, means forrelatively moving the shells to permanentl secure the strand endsbetween the shell walls in projecting relation to the edge ofsaidopening and position said walls in substan tially concentric contactingrelation toeach other, and means automatically acting in the relativemovement oi said shells to bend the edge. of the outer shell inwardlyaround and upontiie edge otthe. inner shell and permanently securesaidshells against relative movement. 7 H I 16. Apparatus of thecharacter described including a male die adapted to receive and supporta semi-spherical shell member of thermo-plastic material, said male diehaving an eye shaped protuberance on its surface,la iemale-dle having acavityto receive an outer metal shell positioned in "enveloping rela--tion tothe shell on said male die, said outer shell having an eye shapedopening in its wall, one of said die membersbeing movable relative tothe other to force the shell walls under pressure into contactingengagement, and means for heating the male die whereby the part of the,wall ofthe inner shellengaged'by said protuberance is renderedsemi-'face, a female die having a cavity to receive an outer metal shellpositioned in enveloping relation to the shell on said male die, saidouter shellhaving an eye shaped opening in its wall, means for feedingeyelash strands to position the ends thereof between the inner andoutershells at one edge of the opening in the latter, one of said die membersbeing movable relative to the other to force the shell walls underpressure into contacting engagement, means for heating the male diewhereby the part of the Wall of the inner shell engaged by saidprotuberance is rendered semi-plastic and projected under pressurethrough the opening in the wall of the outer shell, and simultaneouslyembedding the ends of the eyelash strands in the wall of the innershell, and additional means for simultaneously interlocking parts of theshell walls with each other to permanently secure said shells in theirfinal nested position.

18. Apparatus of the characterdescribed including a male die adapted toreceive and support a semi-spherical shell I member of thermorplasticmaterial,.saidmale diehaving an eye shaped protuberance on its surface,a'female die'havinga cavity to receive an outer metal shell positionedin enveloping relation to the shell onsaid male die, said outer shellhaving an eye shaped opening in its Wall, means for feeding eyelashstrands to position the ends thereof between the inner and outer shellsat one edge of the opening in a the latter, one of said die membersbeing movable relative to the other to force the shell Walls underpressure into contacting engagement, means forheating the male diewhereby the art of the Wall of the inner shell engaged y saidprotuberanceis rendered' semirplastic and projected underi pressurethrough the opening. in'the Wall of the outer shell, and simultaneouslyembedding the ends of the eyelash'strands'in the Wall of the innerlshelland means automatieally actinghduring therelative movement between saidshell members .to bend the edge ofmtheouter shell memberinwardlyflaround and upon theedge. of the innershell memberandtherebyiperma-nently secure said shelllmembers against movement. intheirifinally nested positions, a V V 19. In a method of-assembling theparts of an artificial-V eye, the step Which consists in nestinginnerand outer-semi sgherioal. shell members .with their Walls in enstantial con-. tacting engagement, and simultaneously bending the edgeof oneshellmember around and upon thev edge of the other shell;v memberto secure said. members against relative movement.

In testimonythat I. claim the aforegoingflas my invention, 'I;havesigned myiname hereto.

L'EO J. GRUBMAN.

